Charles m e s s e n g e e



i. l tatie stent fftre.

QHARLE sY MESSENGER, or @LEVEL-AND, oHI-o.

i Letters .Patent No. 70,010, dated October 242, 1867.

f/ 4 TOOL FOR OPENING SHEET-METAL GANS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, CHARLES MESSENGR, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do hereby declare that the folloiving is afull and complete description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speciication, in which` Figure 1 is a. top view of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a. side view.

Figure 3 is a. detached section.

Like letters refer to like part-s in the views.

A, fig. 1, is a metallic plate fixed in a handle, B. In the outer end of this plate is a hole, in which is inserted arod, C, the end of which is made to project beyond the end of the plate, and is brought to a sharp point, C', as shown in fig. 2. The inner end of this rod is held in place bya ring, D, surrounding the plate and rod, and which may be moved along upon the rod, or removed from it, for a purpose hereafter shown. E, iig. 2, is n blade or cutter slipped upon the rod, and projected downward through the plate, as shown in fig. 2,

The practical use of this instrument is for opening oyster, paint, fruit-cans, &c., and which is done in"the following manner, Viz: The apparatus is held in the right hand, and the'point C thrust through the centre of the top of the can. The handle is then broiightdown so as to cause the blade to penetrate the cover; the instrument is turned around' the circumference of the top, the point acting as a pivot, and theharidle as a lever; the blade, as the instrument turns, will cut out a round hole through which the cont-ents of the can may be emptied. The size of a hole thus cut may be made greater or less, by shifting the hladeY from its present position, and making it pass through either of the holes a, fig. 1, and thus cut a small or a large hole as may be required.

Fig. 3 represents a form of knife that may be used in this instrument, and which consists of a centre, F, with radial arms G, said' arms being brought down to a sharp edge, each arm having two edges.

The advantage of this knife is that when one blade is worn out orbecoincsllull, another is ready at hand for use by simply changing one for another, and which is done hy'slipping the ring from the rod, and thus allow the blade to be withdrawn from the plate and another inserted. n

What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure' by Letters Patent, is-

'lhe rod C, blade E, and ring D, in combination with the plate A, for the purpose and in the manner set forth.

CHARLES MESSENGER.

Witnesses J. H.- BURRIDGE, J. I-IoLMns. 

